Dorothy (May) Bradford was a Mayflower passenger. She was the first wife of William Bradford. Their marriage record indicates that she was from Wisbech, Cambrideshire and that William Bradford was of Austerfield. They married at Amsterdam, Holland on 10 Dec 1613. The intentions read:

"Then appeared also as before William Bradford, from Austerfield, fustian weaver, 23 years old, living at Leiden, where the banns have been published, declaring that he has no parents, on the one part, and Dorothy May, 16 years old, from Wisbeach in England, at present living on the New Dyke, assisted by Henry May, on the other part, and declared that they were betrothed to one another with true covenants, requesting their three Sunday proclamations in order after the same to solemnize the aforesaid covenant and in all respects to execute it, so far as there shall be no lawful hindrances otherwise. And to this end they declared it as truth that they were free persons and not akin to each other by blood That nothing existed whereby a Christian marriage might be hindered; and their banns are admitted.

The couple had one child, a son named John, who was born c. 1617 in Holland. John did not travel with Dorothy and William on their trip.

While the Mayflower was docked in Provincetown Harbor, and while William Bradford was away on a scouting trip, Dorothy fell from the deck of the Mayflower and drowned. Her burial location is unknown.

Dorothy fell off the boat while it was anchored in the harbor at Plymouth. Her husband had went ashore with other men exploring the area for a place to settle. Upon returning he discovered his wife had drown. Source is the "The Women of the Mayflower and ...(Read more)-
Emma SimmonsAdded: Dec. 29, 2014